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Communities in West Virginia offer residents a welcoming atmosphere, affordable cost of living, and a strong sense of connection to nature and neighbors alike. From charming small towns to vibrant cities like Charleston and Morgantown, West Virginia communities provide friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools, and access to outdoor recreation right at your doorstep. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life, surrounded by the state’s beautiful mountains, rivers, and forests, as well as rich local culture, historic sites, and community events that bring people together.

 

With safe streets, local businesses, and a true spirit of Appalachian hospitality, living in West Virginia communities means enjoying a high quality of life and a supportive, tight-knit environment where everyone feels at home. Be sure to visit our Communities Travel Guide for information about communities in West Virginia.

White house with a stone chimney and flowering shrubs framed by two large mature shade trees.
Communities

Why trees increase property values—and why wealthy neighborhoods have more of them

by Bianca Bosworth

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s wooded mountains and tree-lined neighborhoods are among the natural attractions drawing new residents, and research suggests that mature shade trees can also add thousands of dollars to home values, lower energy bills, and make neighborhoods more comfortable during summer. But those benefits are not shared equally. A 2021 national study … Read more

Close-up photograph of a small warbler held gently in a bird bander's hand, showing its yellow throat and distinctive facial markings.
Communities

Dozens of birdwatchers thought they’d found one of America’s rarest birds in West Virginia

by Clyde Craig

DANIELS, W.Va. — In the spring of 1975, two women visiting Little Beaver State Park in Raleigh County spotted an unusual songbird that would soon convince dozens of experienced birdwatchers they had rediscovered one of North America’s rarest birds. The bird appeared to be Sutton’s Warbler, first discovered in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle in 1939 … Read more

Long rows of cultivated crops stretch toward a distant tree line beneath a broad evening sky.
Communities

West Virginia agriculture commissioner warns data centers could threaten valuable farmland

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thousands of acres along West Virginia’s Ohio River are being targeted for massive data center developments, prompting the state’s agriculture commissioner to warn that industrial expansion could permanently reduce the farmland available for food production. Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt is urging developers to avoid productive agricultural land when selecting sites for data … Read more

New River Gorge Bridge spanning a deep, forested canyon, viewed from the rocky Long Point overlook in West Virginia.
Communities

New River Gorge enters new era as America’s 64th national park is named

by David Sibray

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — After nearly six years as America’s newest national park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is entering a new phase of tourism promotion as the designation passes to Chiricahua National Park in Arizona. President Donald Trump signed legislation Tuesday establishing Chiricahua as the nation’s 64th national park, ending a distinction … Read more

A person holds several green pawpaws gathered in a blue denim shirt outdoors.
Communities

West Virginia grants target new markets for pawpaws, forest crops

by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Eight West Virginia agricultural projects have received federal grants, including those focused on expanding forest farming, developing food products from native pawpaws, and helping small growers process their harvests. The W.Va. Department of Agriculture announced the awards through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which supports research, education, … Read more

Illustration of a powerful solar eruption above Earth, with numerous satellites orbiting the planet against a backdrop of fiery solar activity.
Communities

West Virginia University researchers aim to reduce satellite collision risks from solar storms

by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Solar storms can expand Earth’s upper atmosphere, slow satellites, change their orbits, and make them harder to track. As thousands of additional satellites circle the planet, those disturbances are becoming an increasingly important concern for the companies and governments that operate them. A West Virginia University researcher will lead a $2.7 million … Read more

A white-tailed deer stands in the middle of a snow-covered rural road in November, surrounded by trees as light snow falls.
Communities

West Virginia leads nation in animal collisions as deer season raises danger

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia motorists face the nation’s highest risk of striking an animal while driving, according to new insurance data released as the state enters its most dangerous deer-collision season. “Driving through West Virginia this time of year is like driving through a petting zoo,” said David Sibray, publisher of West Virginia Explorer. “I drive … Read more

Visitors explore the historic downtown of Hinton, a gateway to the southern reaches of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, where brick-lined streets, local shops, and mountain scenery offer a quieter side of the park experience. (Photo: David Sibray / WVExplorer)
Communities

As New River Gorge attracts newcomers, Hinton foundation invites investment in community

by Clyde Craig

HINTON, W.Va. — As interest in living, working, and vacationing near New River Gorge National Park and Preserve grows and brings new investment to southern West Virginia, a community foundation invites residents and out-of-state supporters to help strengthen the region’s future. The Hinton Area Foundation is encouraging contributions to charitable funds that support education, nonprofit … Read more

West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon generates an estimated $75.5 million in annual statewide economic activity, according to a new study of West Virginia's independent colleges and universities.
Communities

West Virginia’s private colleges generate nearly $392 million annually, study finds

by David Sibray

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s six independent colleges and universities generate an estimated $391.9 million in annual economic activity and support more than 3,000 jobs, according to a new study highlighting the economic importance of higher education to some of the state’s smaller communities. “West Virginia’s independent colleges are much more than places where students … Read more

Workers restore the roof of the historic Tyree Tavern in Ansted, West Virginia. Dating to approximately 1810, the former stagecoach inn is being rehabilitated as a museum and cultural facility. A new $28,000 preservation grant will support window restoration. (Photo courtesy Pam Webster-Walsh)
Communities

Eight historic West Virginia buildings awarded $490,000 for preservation

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Eight historic West Virginia buildings, including a frontier-era tavern, an early African American school, and a church once used by enslaved worshippers, will receive more than $490,000 in federal preservation grants to help protect landmarks dating to the state’s earliest years. The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia has awarded $490,261 through its … Read more